My Genealogy Hound

W. J. Wood was born November 18, 1853, in Putnam County, Mo., where he was reared and educated, and still lives. His education was received at the common schools of the county, and since he has been old enough to make himself useful around his father’s farm he has been engaged in the fulfillment of the duties of a farmer’s life. He inherited a little property, to which he has added from time to time until he now owns 980 acres of nicely improved land, well stocked with cattle and horses. December 20, 1883, he was married to Miss Jennie E. Yoakem, a native of Mercer County, Mo., and daughter of Cread and Rebecca Ellen (Morris) Yoakem, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mr. Yoakem came with his parents to Mercer County, Mo., when about ten years old, and Mrs. Yoalsem came to the same place with her parents when quite small. She died in 1872, and Mr. Yoakem afterward married Miss Mary L. Williams. Two children were born to the first marriage and one to the last. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the war, and after serving three years was discharged from the hospital at Springfield, Mo., on account of sickness. He began life a poor man, but succeeded in accumulating some little property only, however, to lose it later. He was a son of James R. and Huldah (Kirkendall) Yoakem, natives of Virginia, who moved to Mercer County, Mo. Mr. Yoakem died at the age of fifty-five, but his widow is still living and is the wife of Elijah Holmes. Mrs. Rebecca E. Yoakem was a daughter of Joshua and Currant Happy (Arbuckle) Morris. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood two children have been born: Pearl and Bertha. Mr. Wood is a Democrat in politics, and is the third child of seven born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnson) Wood.